Permutation lock



March 21, 1944. D, FQSTER 2,344,860

PERMUTATION LOCK Filed June 9, 1943 Ra. 2. 12g.' a. Ra. 4..

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Patented Mar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERMUTATION LOCK Application June 9, 1943, Serial No. 490,145

3 Claims. ('Cl. 70--309) This invention relates to permutation locks, and is here shown as applied to the steering post, as of an automobile, for locking it against turning and is of essentially the same general type as that shown in Patent No. 1,316,946.

y In that patent, a permutation lock was described which was adapted, as here, to lo'ck the steering post of an automobile. As there shown, the locking bolt when moved into locking position does not disturb the combination and unless turned may be withdrawn and the lock released without the necessity of Working the combination, thus leaving it, if such turning be neglected, open to theft in much the same manner as any ordinary lock would be were the key not removed. It also is often desirable that change be made in the combination, at least in part, as when a car equipped with a lock has been purchased from a `prior user, who, unless such change were made, would be able, without further, to work the combination and remove the car illegally.

The objects of the invention are:

To provide a locking device of the above character in which the unlocking movement of withdrawing the bolt and subsequent relooking movement, upset the combination preventing subsequent release until resetting of the combination is made.

An additional object of the invention is to provide blocking'means for the device which may be disengaged and shifted when the device is unlocked to provide change in at least one element of the combination- A further object is to provide a device of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

' A still further object is to provide a device of the character described in which movement of the locking bolt may be used to close an electric circuit, as the ignition circuit of an automobile.

The means by which these and other objects, as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention, will be further disclosed hereinafter in the specification, and these and other objects will readily be understood upon reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a sectional elevation taken on the longitudinal center line of the locking bolt.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the knob and related indicia by which the combination may be set.

Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, are transverse sections taken respectively on the lines III-III, IV-IV, V--V, VI-VL and VII-VII, of Fig. 1, all looking in the same direction, as shown by the arrows thereon.

Fig. 8 is a similar section taken, as in Fig. 7, on the line VII-VII, but with the blocking lug shifted to blocking position; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sketch showing an alternate barrel construction detail.

Referring now to thev drawing in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

II is a rotatably mounted steering post, usual in automobiles or other vehicles, and I3 the usual tubular casing surrounding the post. Disposed around the casing I3 is a. two part bracket I5-I6, which interlocks around the post. After engagement around the post, the two parts are relatively secured by driving a pin I'I preferably ush with the exterior surface of the head, this pin, if desired, extending into securing engagement with the casing I3.

The casing I3 and the bracket part I5I6 may be apertured in alinement to receive a bushing I9 which prevents shift or turning of the head with regard to the casing.

Secured in the bracket part I6, as by a pin 2|, driven iiush with the surface of the head, is a cylindrical barrel 23 which is concentric with the bushing I 9 and is closed at its outer end.by a head 25 which may be integral with the sleeve, or, as shown in Fig. 9, be secured therein, as by a pin or pins 2l. The head 25 andbushing I9 are bored concentric with the barrel 23 to slidably and rotatably mount a locking bolt 29, which is of length to project beyond the bushing and into locking engagement with the steering post, which is suitably apertured to receive it.

Oppositely thebolt extends beyond the head 25 and has secured on its projecting end a knob 3| by which it may be turned and also longitudinally shifted. The knob may be secured to the bolt by a pin 33 which snugly fits, but which may be easily driven out to remove the knob and obtain access to the barrel head for making shift of the bushing blocking locking device, as will be later indicated. The barrel 23 also extends'be yond the `head 25` and houses a substantial part of the knob 3| andl covers thepin 33 when the bolt 29 is in locked position.

The knob, where exposed beyond the barrel, in locked position of the bolt, is provided with indicia marking-s, as marked and designated by the numerals 0 and 10, inFig,-2, there prefer 'ably being thirty of these markings equally spaced around the knob. 35 is a cooperating marking or indicia indicator on the barrel 23.

Bolt 29 intermediate its length is successively provided with a locked-position groove 31, a latch release lug 39, an unlocked-position groove 4|, and tumbler lugs 43, 45, 41 and 49. In manufacture, lug 39 is positioned about V140 degrees from lug 43 to establish a maximum movement in unblocking and the other lugs individually shifted with relation to lug 43, in usual manner, by the 12 degree increments required by the thirty knob markings, to establish the variation in permutation combinations desired.

Disposed within the casing` is. a blocking structure through which the bolt 29. passes; this4 struc,..- ture comprising a cylindrical base and a cylindrical cap 53, the base resting on the head and being prevented from turning relatively thereto by a set screw 55, which engages any selected one of a plurality of conical indentations ,s

5.1 in the base, the number of indentations corresponding tothe number ot indicia markings, and the top of the cap closelyv underlying the lug 43. The base 5| is radially bored to receive a ball 59 and spring 6| by which the ball is held ir engagement with the groove 3 1`when the bolt` is in locked, and with the groove 4| when in "un locked, position, and is provided with a longitudinal groove 63, Figs. "l :and 8, to allow outward shift of unlatcl'iing'lug 39 from locked to unlocked position.YV The base is also cut away to receive 'a latch arm 65, leaving a` moreor less arcuate seotor61 tov support the cap 53;, the sec-v tor being spaced froml the bolt 29 to clear the lug lhe latch ar1n65-is hingedly mounted on a pin 69Y and extends arcuatelyabout halfway around the bolt 29, Aand is urged toward the boltV by a springwll. Atits free end the'arrn carries a blockingl stop`1'3, which extends to the level-` of;A the top ofthe cap 53. Cap 53 has a radial notch4 15 to permit unlocking movement oi the lug 43- therethrough. This notch has a lateral' extension 131-v which houses the stop 13 clear ofthe notch 15 when the 1ug'43 'is shiftedV to unlocking position. 4

firm is also provided with an inwardly extendina Cam portion 19. which is adaptedfor engagementby the lug; 39, on turning movement of the bolt 29, in'either direction,` to shiftthe arm 65 laterally against opposition to theA springY 1|.

8| isr an earof greater widthf than theslotV 1i", and pin43, which may be ca rried by aresilienta'rinA 3 3- `suitably securedin af channelwaycut-in the inner faceof the sector 61 which ear-fen-A gages the arm 65- to holditinl such laterallyl shifted position when shi-ft bylug 39- hasy been accomplished (Fig. 7), and unti-lfthe` ear is sub-` sequently depressedA by outward movement of the. lug 43. When theear is so depressed the arm 65 (Fig. 6'), moves againstl the lug 43Y andV overlies part of theear 81|, holdingit depressed until subsequentl movement of lug 39 movesv the arm outward to position shown in Fig. 7,Y and releases it.V

Disposed against the cap 53J is a short` sleeve 85 which is annularly vshouldered atv its inner end to rotatably receive a tumbler disc; 81', this dise, as shown in Fig. 5, having a radial'slot 89 through which the lug 45 may outwardly passV when the slot' isl shifted to proper position. Fromv opposite sides of= the notch 89, pins-91| ex'- tend outwardly laterally from the disc to form a guideway` maintaining the` lug 45 in slot; alinement duri'g'f'itsfoutward movement, "llhe pins' 75y 9| also serve, one or the other as the case may be, to be engaged by the lug 43 when the bolt is rotated.

Overlying the disc 81 and resting on the upper end of the sleeve 85, so that binding of the disc 81 against rotation does not occur, is a second sleeve 93, similar to the sleeve 85, which similarly supports a second tumbler disc 95. This disc also is provided with a' slot 91 and outwardly extending guideway pins 99 adapted to be engaged by the lug 45, and with an inwardly extending pin ll spaced some ninety degrees from the slot.

|63 is a thirdv sleeve, supporting a third tumbler disc |95, having a slot |01, and guide pins |99 whichv are adapted for engagement by the pin |9|. is a sleeve conning disc |95.

All of the discs are provided with bores, as the bore 3 of disc 81, of such size that they cannot contact the bolt 29 and be displaced by turning movement thereof, and, are; so. mounted in the sleeves that they turn with extreme ease. Also. the tumbler lugs 43, 45, 4:1-, and 49 are soy disposed that with the bolt held in locking position by the ball 59 and cooperating groove 31 they barely clear the faces of their respective tumbler discs, and any attempt tofeel the slots in the grooves results in displacement of the discs.

IflitV beY desired to use the device-to efectmakingy and breaking. of an electric circuit, the sleeve I9` may be made of insulating material, as hard;l rubber orv the like, and a metallic ringY |-|5 be imbedded therein. In such case a limited sec;-

tion ||1 of the bolt 29- is made of reduced diam eter so that contact with` the ring |=i'5 is avoided whenY the bolt 29` is in locked position. When: in, unlocking and thel bolt is drawn outward the headV of' the bolt makes, contact with the ring |2'|5.

||9 is an insulated wire leading from the fring, and |2| the second circuit wire, here shown as establishing a ground, as isusual. in automobile and other vehiclebrackets.

It will be understood. that the switch may: be.

l used-l inL connection withA the. locking feature of.

the. bolt or. that` either the; locking feature or. the switch may beindependently used, a-smaybe desired, and that while the bracket l5, I6 is shown. as att-aching the lock to the steering` post of an automobile, the bracket may; be adapted.' for se curement; in some other place entirely divorced from.l the steering post, or even fromx a vehicle..

In operation, assuming that, the; device is. in. locked position, as shown in Fig. 1, the. knob St is turned inusual manner, twice to` theA righhunztik a'. first, indicia, number of. the- Combinaton, 0.11 the knob; alinea with the. indicator- 351- During t is. movement the lug 43 engages one oi the-pins-Qt Carried, by the dis@ 81,. turning that. disq, the. 111g 415; engages 0.1.16. 0f the; pins 99.- and, the. pin. |1021; engages one 0f; the plus, I 4l, shiftingL the; temblar disc to desired position. The knob' is; tw reversely turned, pickingrupithelotherf ot thopins 9| on the disc S1 andl one ofv thev pins.l-orithe,Y disc, 9,5, and ,isr turned to-bring the second :combina:- tionI indicia on theV knobinto alinementl with.v the indicator 3.5;, andthe disc. 9,5` into proper aline.. ment. Theknob is then again turnedto theright,v the lug 43 engaging the rst engaged pin 9| and; shift continued until the third. combination indicia registers: with the indicator and theknob isr finally shifted again to theleftalining thezfourth combination indicia with the indicator, andthe.

lugv 43 over the slot 15' in t-he'cap-offtheblgckinggY device.

In the first turning movement of the knob 3I, above described, the lug 39 engages the cam 19 on the arm 65 shifting that arm outward in sufficient amount to allow the ear BI to be moved upward by the resilient member 83 into latching engagement with the end of the arm 65 and during subsequent turning movements to hold that arm in such outwardly shifted position. This outward movement moves the stop 13 clear of the slot 15 and opens that slot to receive the lug 43, and the bolt 29 may be pulled outward releasing locking action of the bolt on the steering post I I or closing the circuit through the lead wire II9 and grounded bolt 29, in well known manner.

In outward movement of the plunger the ball 59 is displaced from the groove 31, the lug 39 moves downward into the groove 63 and eventually the ball 59 engages the groove 4I, holding the bolt against other than intentional displacement. Also the lug 43 in its downward movement engages the ear 8l, depressing that ear below the arm 65, allowing the spring 1I to shift the arm into the position shown in Fig. 6, with the stop 13 against the lug 43 and the arm overlying the ear 8I and holding same down during subsequent movement.

In the movement of the various lugs 45, 41 and 49, the pins 9I, 99 and |99 respectively prevent any accidental shifting movement of the discs 81, 95 and I [I5 which might otherwise prevent opposite locking movement.

To lock the device the knob 3| is pushed inward, the various lugs 43, 45, 41 and 49 again moving to their position as initially shown. However, the lug 43 slides upward along the stop 13,

which, having been released by depression of the ear` 8 I, now bears against the lug 43 until that lug clears the upper end of the stop and permits shift of the stop into the position shown in Fig. 8, closing the slot 15 against any attempted unlocking of the device until the lug 39 may have been turned substantially 180 degrees and the combination in general upset.

I claim:

1. A permutation lock including a barrel, heads closing the inner and outer ends of said barrel, a bolt rotatably journalled in said heads and slidably shiftable from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, said bolt extending beyond said outer head, a knob on the extending end of said bolt for turning and shifting said bolt, a plurality of annular tumbler discs disposed in said barrel and each having a slot therethrough, sleeves arranged in said barrel journalling said discs for free turning movement and spacing said discs relatively to each other and said head, said bolt having lugs for engaging and turning said discs selectively to position said slots, and adapted to pass through said positioned slots in unlocking movement of said bolt, including a lug for accomplishing turning `movement only of said discs, and an additional unblocking lug; and means, cooperating with said turning lug to prevent unlocking movement ot said bolt, said means including a base member supported by said outer head, a cap member supported by said base member in spaced relation thereto, and adapted to overlie said unblocking lug when said bolt is in locked position, said cap member having a first slot adapted to permit unlocking movement o'f said turning lug and a lateral slot leading therefrom, said members being apertured for said bolt, an arm disposed between said members and pivotally hinged means urging said arm toward said bolt, said arm-having at its opposite end and in said slot a stop extending substantially flush withlthe inner face oi` said cap and shiftable into said lateral slot, and a cam portion engageable` momentarilyv by turning movement of said unblocking lug, an ear disposed below said rst slot, and of size to underlie an adjacent portion of said lateral slot, resilient means urging said ear'into said slots in latching relation to said arm when said arm is laterally shifted by said unblocking lug, said ear being depressible by unlocking shift of said turning lug into said rst slot, said unblocking lug being of length to engage said cam only of said arm and shift said arm and stop clear of said ear by turning movement of said bolt and releasing said arm and stop against said turning lug in overlying relation to said ear on further turning movement of said bolt.

2. A permutation lock including a barrel, heads closing the opposite ends of said barrel, a bolt rotatably journalled in said heads and slidably shiftable from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, said bolt extending beyond one said head, a knob on the extending end of said bolt for turning and shifting said bolt, a plurality of annular tumbler discs disposed in said barrel and each having a slot therethrough, sleeves arranged in said barrel journalling said discs for free turning movement and spacing said discs relatively to each other and said head, said bolt having lugs for engaging and turning said discs selectively to position said slots, and adapted to pass through said positioned slots in unlocking movement of said bolt, including a lug for accomplishing turning movement only of said discs, and an additional unblocking lug; and means, cooperating with said turning lug to prevent unlocking movement of said bolt, said means comprising a structure slotted to permit movement of said turning lug, from locked to unlocked position, stop means resiliently urged into said slot to prevent movement, means format one end to at least one thereof, resilient ing part of said stop means and cooperating with said unblocking lug on turning movement of said bolt for displacing said stop means from said slot, means for latching said stop means in displaced position, said latching means being depressible into unlatching position by unlocking movement of said turning lug into said slot, to release said stop means against said turning lug, said latching means being adapted for engagement and holding in such depressed position by said stop means when said means is released against said turning lug.

3. A permutation lock including a barrel, heads closing the opposite ends of said barrel, a bolt rotatably journalled in said heads and slidably shiftable from locked to unlocked position and vice Versa, said bolt extending beyond one said head, a knob on the extending end of said bolt for turning and shifting said bolt, a plurality of tumbler discs disposed in said barrel and each having a sl-ot therethrough, sleeves arranged in said barrel journalling said discs for free turning movement and spacing said discs relatively to each other and said head, said discs having bores for the passage of said bolt, said .bolt having lugs for engaging and turning said discs selectively to position said slots, and adapted to pass through said positioned slots in unlocking movement of said bolt, including a lug for aecomplishing turning movement only of said discs, and an additional unblocking lug; means,

CII

into unlaching position by unlocking movement of said turning lug into said slot, to release said stop means against said turning lug, said latch# ing means being adapted for engagement and holding in such depressed position by said stop means when said means is released against said turning lug; and resiliently urged means cooperating With said bolt for displaceably positioning said. bolt respectively in locked and un'- 10 locked position.

SAMPSON D. FOSTER. A 

